JARC Florida

For 25 years, Debra Hallow worked to make the lives of those with disabilities and their families better. At the end of April, the CEO of JARC Florida will retire. She leaves the nonprofit, nonsectarian organization knowing that she succeeded in numerous ways.

Hallow came to JARC Florida from Massachusetts, where she began her career at the Walter E. Fernald State School. Back then, people with disabilities were separated from the rest of society and often forgotten. She came to JARC to change that.

During her tenure, JARC grew from three to a network of 10 residential homes and one apartment complex in Boca Raton and Delray Beach. There’s also a living and learning center for vocational training and social and recreational programs for people with disabilities.

“For me to see the inhumanity that people lived in and then to be part of creating a place where everyone would want someone they loved to be able to live is a gift I don’t think many people have in their career,” says Hallow.

She initially faced a “not in my backyard” mentality from the community. But she worked to change that.

“One of the most important things we do is break down barriers,” says Hallow.

Not many nonprofit leaders can say they spent a quarter century at the same organization. Hallow attributes her successes to her close bond with the board of directors and “hiring people who are smarter than me,” she says.

One of those people, COO Jeffrey Zirulnick, will be her successor.

As for Hallow, she plans to “get reacquainted with my life,” she says, and volunteer at other organizations that support animals, the military and the environment.

“I will always be a part of JARC, but I need to give the new CEO the opportunity to not be in my shadow for a while,” she says. “But he knows I am not far away.”